Saints and Falcons may be competing for Spagnuolo, Nolan

The Falcons and Saints are out of the playoffs, but their NFC South competition is not over for the month.

Gregg Williams is expected to leave the Saints defensive coordinator gig to work with Jeff Fisher in St. Louis.

So who will the Saints look to replace Williams with? ESPN’s Adam Schefter says that former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo and Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan are both high on the Saints’ short list of candidates.

Those are the exact same two names that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote were the leading candidates to fill the defensive coordinator role in Atlanta.

The Falcons have more flexibility to strike fast. Williams’ contract is up in New Orleans, but it could take a few days for his future to clear up as the Saints try to move on from their season’s sudden end.

Isn’t Nolan a 3-4 coach? It’s not easy to change over in terms of personnel and teaching the scheme overnight. I’d say Spagnuolo would be the best pick if you want the best chance to win it all next year for either team.

So now the Rams have a mediocre head coach who wins just over half his games and gets to the playoffs about 30% of the time and a defensive coordinator who has consistently presided over mediocre defenses ranked in the bottom half of the league and gave up 36 points to an Alex Smith led offense yesterday.

For years we have heard about how much of a “genius” DC Mike Williams is and I for one don’t get it. He failed at his one attempt as a HC and his defenses haven’t been above average. Outside of 2009, which was more a result of a powerful offense that usually had huge leads in games which required opposing teams to pass and allowed the Saints defense the opportunity to free-lance and gamble, the Saints defense has always been it’s achillies heel. Williams has only been a beneficiary of a potent offense that has unduly made an undeserving reputation for Williams.

Go get Spags and we’ll win multiple Superbowls. Never was the biggest GW fan. So much is predicated on turnovers which just didn’t come this year and of course the blitz which killed us yesterday. How can Davis run so freely at the end after the game he had had up to that point? Bad defense. Questionable, at best, defensive draft picks, and an inability or refusal to adjust the D during the game. Enjoy St. Louis Greg.

I think both men offer good things for the Saint’s potential defense. I, however, feel Spags fits more with their current personnel with the least need for change. I’m not saying that William’s didn’t know what he was doing, but he often put his defense in a bad position, situation be damned.

You’re right as right can be. We cannot pressure QB,s with our front four, that must change. The 49’rs drafted a defensive end that had 16 sacks in the first round, and we drafted one that had one sack all year. As far as Greg Williams is concerned, all I can say is good riddance…

For the idiots complaining about the play calling that lead to Alex smith lighting up the saints. Would you prefer that he went to a prevent defense? And Alex smith made himself look clutch nobody did it for him.

Yardage wise: The packers and patriots have the worst defenses in the league and they’ll probably meet in the superbowl. Translation: it’s all about the play of the QB. Tebow beat the #1 defense last week. Defense is overrated. Never overpay for a Defensive Coordinator. If the Eagles didn’t lead the league in turnovers and Vick didn’t get hurt, nobody would be talking about Castillo’s job status.

Maybe if G Williams leaves the saints will get a corner that can cover.That guy #27 ? Jenkins can’t cover his girl friend.Gave up 2 big plays in the playoff game,just like he did in other games i have seen him play.

I see we still got poor sport saints fans calling Alex Smith a scrub, that coming from some one who probably scrubs toilets (saintsfan1111) for a living give credit where credit is due. Brees is already 33 once hes dones who dat gonna be playing quaterback